James Eckhouse to Join Bryan Cranston in Broadway's ALL THE WAY as 'Robert McNamara'

Producers Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel and Louise Gund have announced that James Eckhouse, most recently seen in the world premiere of Jane Anderson's 'The Escort' at The Geffen Playhouse and best known for playing Jim Walsh on the original "Beverly Hills 90210", will play the role of Robert McNamara in the Broadway bound production of All the Way by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Robert Schenkkan (The Kentucky Cycle).

Eckhouse joins previously announced three-time Emmy Award-winning actor Bryan Cranston ("Breaking Bad") as Lyndon B. Johnson, Michael McKeanas J. Edgar Hoover, Brandon J. Dirden as Martin Luther King, Jr., Rob Campbell as Governor George Wallace, 5-time Tony nominee John McMartin(Into the Woods, High Society, Sweet Charity, Show Boat, Don Juan) as Richard Russell, Roslyn Ruff as Fannie Lou Hamer and Coretta Scott King andRobert Petkoff as Senator Hubert Humphrey. Additional casting will be announced.

Robert McNamara was the longest serving Secretary of Defense from 1961-1968, serving under both Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. He played a large role in the Unites States involvement in the Vietnam War.

All the Way will play The Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street) for a strictly limited run and begins rehearsals on Tuesday, January 14, 2014, with previews beginning Monday, February 10, 2014 and an opening night set for Thursday, March 6, 2014. The play is directed by Bill Rauch, Artistic Director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, where All the Way began its theatrical life.

Tickets are currently on sale to the general public through www.Ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster.com at (800) 745-3000.

All the Way, with its cast of twenty actors, takes audiences behind the doors of the Oval Office and inside the first year of Lyndon B. Johnson's presidency and his fight to pass a landmark civil rights bill.

All the Way was commissioned by the Oregon Shakespeare Festival's American Revolutions: the United States History Cycle and premiered at OSF in 2012. It then went on to play a sold-out and critically acclaimed run at the A.R.T. from September 13-October 12, 2013 starring Cranston. The play was awarded the 2013 inaugural Edward M. Kennedy Prize for Drama Inspired by American History, established through Columbia University in honor of the late Senator Kennedy, honoring new plays or musicals exploring US history and issues of the day.

All the Way is produced by Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel, Louise Gund, and Stephanie P. McClelland, Double Gemini Productions, Rebecca Gold, Scott M. Delman, Barbara H. Freitag, Harvey Weinstein, Gene Korf, William Berlind, Luigi Caiola, Gutterman Chernoff, JAM Theatricals, Gabrielle Palitz, Cheryl Wiesenfeld and Will Trice.

Set design is by Christopher Acebo, costume design by Deborah M. Dryden, lighting design by Jane Cox, composition and sound design by Paul James Prendergast, video projections by Shawn Sagady and the projection design consultant is Wendall K. Harrington. The Dramaturge is Tom Bryant.

James Eckhouse. James has starred in over 50 plays ranging from Shakespeare to Shepard on Broadway, Off-Broadway and in most of the nation's regional theaters. His most recent appearances include the world premiere of Jane Anderson's 'The Escort' at The Geffen Playhouse, 'Six Degrees of Separation' at The Old Globe and the Mark Taper Forum's production of Edward Albee's Pulitzer Prize winning play: 'The Goat'. On TV James has had recurring roles on 'The Good Wife', 'Masters of Sex', 'The West Wing', has guest starred on dozens of series, and is best known for his portrayal of one of television's favorite TV 'dads' - Jim Walsh on the original 'Beverly Hills 90210'. Among James' many film credits are 'The Avengers', 'S.W.A.T.', 'One True Thing', 'Junior', 'Defending Your Life', '84 Charing Cross Road', 'Fat Man and Little Boy', 'Cocktail', 'Big', 'Leaving Normal', 'Joseph - King of Dreams' and two 2013 releases 'Shotgun Wedding' and 'The Good Mother'. is extensive directing credits include the world premieres of Keliher Walsh's 'Year of The Rabbit' at Ensemble Studio Theatre LA , 'Bright Boy, The Passion of Robert MacNamara' at The Electric Lodge, and'In Heat' at the Lost Studio. James served for three years as co-artistic director of Ensemble Studio Theater-LA developing and directing over 20 new plays. On Television, James has directed several episodes of hit series including 90210 and ABC's award winning drama, Once And Again. His documentary, 'Protecting The Possibilities' won a Cine Golden Eagle and his short film, 'True Bromance' is due in festivals this winter. James began his training at Chicago's Second City and went on to receive a BFA in Drama at the Juilliard School.